- - “Love Is Blind'”s Giannina Gibelli and “The Bachelorette’”s Blake Horstmann to Host “What’s the Reality?” While AD Is on Maternity Leave (Exclusive)

Liza EsquibiasJanuary 14, 2026 at 2:39 AM

0

Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann are taking over Amber Desiree "AD" Smith's What's the Reality? podcast while she is on maternity leave

PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the couple's "special episode," where they get into "the hot seat"

They also reveal that AD will return as host "when she's ready," but say they are "keeping the couch nice and warm" for her in the meantime

Amber Desiree “AD” Smith is leaving her What’s the Reality podcast in good hands while she is on maternity leave.

As the new mom settles into life after welcoming her first child with husband Ollie Sutherland earlier this month, her fellow Love Is Blind alum, Giannina Gibelli, and The Bachelorette’s Blake Horstmann are stepping into her hosting spot. PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the trailer for the couple’s upcoming episode, which drops on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 6 a.m. ET.

“We are so happy and honored to be your guest host,” Giannina says, while Blake adds, “We're just keeping the couch nice and warm for AD, so don't worry, she will be back when she's ready.”

Sirius XM

Amber Desiree "AD" Smith

When Giannina jokes that she’s going to put Blake “in the hot seat,” he admits, “I'm terrified, to be honest.”

The pair then reflect on their relationship, with Blake noting that while they both come from a reality TV background, they are from entirely “different universes.” They first met on All Star Shore, which was not a dating series, but rather a competition show that featured a crossover of stars from various franchises.

“We were not even supposed to fall in love at all,” Blake explains. “Your plan, you weren't gonna meet anybody, and I was the same way.”

“I didn't want a boyfriend,” Giannina confirms. “I was done. I was like, ‘I'm gonna make out with everybody, I'm just gonna have the time of my life.’”

“She did,” Blake quips, to which Giannina replies, “Wanna talk about that?”

She later reveals that she was set to appear on Netflix’s Perfect Match, which is a dating show, but she pulled out because she met Blake two months prior.

“That was actually a tipping point in our relationship,” Blake explains. “I will never forget when you told me you're going on Perfect Match. I was shocked. I was in complete shock, because I was like, [I had] just asked you to be my girlfriend.”

The pair have since gotten engaged and welcomed their son, Heath Orion, who was born in April 2024.

@clarydot

Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann

The duo also will be sharing their opinions on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette franchise, including The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul leading the next season.

But then, the trailer ends on a cliffhanger. “I haven't really talked about this publicly, honestly. I haven't,” Blake teases. “And it's gonna make, you know, headlines and clickbait and all that fun stuff.”

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Giannina and Blake share their excitement about taking over the gig while AD is out. “A strong relationship thrives off keeping certain things private, so we’ve decided to invite everyone that’s listening and watching What’s the Reality? to hear us do the exact opposite,” they said.

The duo added, “Knowing just how beautiful getting ready for a baby is, we’re honored to keep AD’s seat warm while she’s on maternity leave. While we’re new to doing this together, we’re no strangers to the hot seat and we’re beyond excited to also bring some of our love story into a special episode.”

Giannina and Blake's episode of What's the Reality? drops Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 6 a.m. ET on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”